EXPERT ANALYSIS OILERMAN BLOG: WEEK 3

[OILERMAN]

With 10:31 left in the 4th quarter Jake Locker led the Titans on two scoring drives that ended in a game winning TD to rookie Justin Hunter with 15 seconds left in the game and put the Titans at 2-1 for the season.

I guess this is how all the Titan games will go this season: down-to-the-wire thrillers. But, when you look around the league, this is pretty much how most of them go. The Titans defense in combination with some terrible Chargers mistakes allowed Tennessee to stay in the game throughout before Locker played his best in the 4th quarter, sealing the win.

Watching until Hunter caught the game winner I never once thought the Titans were going to come out on top. This game hinged on a few plays that kept the Titans in it. Obviously, the penalty on the Eddie Royal TD and the 15 yarder on Rivers kept the Titans from falling down 14-3. A less talked about play was after the Chargers got the ball back after the field goal.

There is 6:01 left in the game and the Chargers go into their ball control offense to seal the game. San Diego ran the ball with Matthews five times for 21 yards and looked well on their way to running out the clock but on the fifth play they were called for holding, taking them from second and six to second and sixteen. San Diego ran two more plays for 11 yards, getting the clock down to 2:17 before being forced to punt. Munchak had already used all of the time-outs and there was no stopping the clock. One more first down by the Chargers and the game is over.

The debate all week has been over Locker and it looked like that debate would go on for another week until the touchdown pass to Hunter. He missed Williams open for a TD on the play before and the offense was pretty bad until the fourth quarter but I actually thought Locker played pretty well, even if they didn't win the game. There were a ton of drops, terrible pass protection, and what I thought was a poorly called game by Loggains up until the game winner, I didn't think the offense was sputtering because of Locker. Munchak also did him no favors using all of the time-outs before the game winning drive. Locker also had some timely runs, including the touchdown.

The talk will be about the game winning drive but the field goal drive before had some big moments as well. Locker converted a 3rd and 10 to Walker for 15 yards and also converted on 4th and 3 with a 17 yard pass to Washington.

Chris Johnson ran much harder in this game and had a solid game. He clearly put in more effort than last week and it was likely talked about in last weeks review of the game film. He also had a nice lead block on Locker's touchdown run. He didn't do anything to merit his contract but he also didn't play poorly or deserve any criticism. He even had a 20+ yard run.

In the off season and training camp there was talk of trading Nate Washington (Wyatt reported this) and the staff did everything they could to start Tommy Campbell over Verner. Even before week one the coaching staff said Verner and Campbell would likely rotate in and out of the starting line-up. You can argue through 3 games these two guys are the offensive and defensive MVPs on the team. It was a foregone conclusion Verner would play out his contract and leave but they might have to talk extension if his play keeps up.

I think Munchak and Loggains dodged a huge bullet with this win. Munchak managed the game poorly for the second week in a row and the offensive game plan was terrible. The announcers totally botched the description of the challenge on whether Washington was out of bounds. The staff sees the broadcast and that likely influenced their decision to challenge. They ignored the fact his right foot was already up when he caught the ball and when he caught the pass it was clearly out of bounds. Loggains is going to have to open up the offense. Locker can execute a more open offense and if it leads to more mistakes then so be it.

The good news: The team is 2-1 and right with the Texans and Colts. I also believe the offense has a lot of room to improve and when they get Greene back it will add a very needed element.

The bad news: Kenny Britt went from playing for an extension to possibly being in doubt of playing next week. At the very least, he's likely to have a much smaller role. I also still think the passing game is a big concern. The pass protection has got to improve and Loggains has to put Locker in better situations. The wide receivers are also dropping way too many passes.

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[OILERMAN]

I'd add that this team has to seriously consider getting Brian Schwenke in at center. Normally I'd consider putting a rookie center into the line-up on an OL already struggling in pass protection but Turner is too bad. He's literally killing drives and getting destroyed way too often as well as getting flagged every game multiple times.

 

Keeping Turner over Velasco looks like a mistake

[scine09]

I disagree with Loggains. I think he called a great game yesterday outside of a couple of drives in the 2nd half.

 

He clearly gave Locker more opportunities, and he rewarded them. He needs to continue to do that, particularly against a Jets team that stops the run very well.

[OILERMAN]

I disagree with Loggains. I think he called a great game yesterday outside of a couple of drives in the 2nd half.

 

He clearly gave Locker more opportunities, and he rewarded them. He needs to continue to do that, particularly against a Jets team that stops the run very well.

 

Weren't you saying the strategy was embarrassing in the game thread during the game or something like that?

[earlers]

Debbie Downer, You do make some valid points though especially about Loggains. Can't fault Munch on those challenges because you never know how the refs will see it.

[Pragidealist]

I agree with most all of this. One of us should probably rethink somethings...

The offense has driven 95+ plus yards twice now against quality defenses. Both times with a heavy pass vs run ratio.

Hopefully that's not lost on the coaching staff. Be a ball control offense AFTER you're managing a lead. This a passing offense that is pretty young and new but with great potential. Imo, they need a game plan that capitalizes on the potential and gives them more opportunities to recover from mistakes.

Having said that, it won't surprise me if we see a similar game plan used against the Steelers when they play the Jets.

I have to think after watching them play yesterday that the Titans will like their chances if they can just play mistake free offense so as to let the Jets shoot themselves. The biggest difficulty against the Jets may be in getting out of their way toward self- implosion.

Not a strategy I would favor but I can't fault that reasoning.

[IowaOiler]

Odd how Munch can call such a shitty game and still accomplish something Fisher has yet to do.

 

Do you have any 'Expert Analysis' on the Rams?

Edited September 23, 2013 by IowaOiler

[OILERMAN]

Debbie Downer, You do make some valid points though especially about Loggains. Can't fault Munch on those challenges because you never know how the refs will see it.

 

Debbie Downer? Good luck getting more positive from me than what you just read.

 

The challenge on Washington being out of bounds was crystal clear, it was never getting turned and time outs were crucial at that point in the game, they also used all their challenges

[scine09]

Weren't you saying the strategy was embarrassing in the game thread during the game or something like that?

I was getting angry in the 2nd half about the runs. Outside of that I was happy with all the throwing.

[ctm]

Odd how Munch can call such a shitty game and still accomplish something Fisher has yet to do.

 

Do you have any 'Expert Analysis' on the Rams?

 

Here's how the beat writer for the St. Louis Post Dispatch grades the rams:

 

http://www.stltoday.com/gallery/sports/columns/jeff-gordon/rams-report-card-week/collection_f3afc6bb-199d-5013-acbf-c45580ab86f8.html#0

[Jonboy]

Hey @OILERMAN did you see that Loggains didn't even call the plays on the final drive? It was all Locker (according to Delanie Walker, anyway).

 

Is that pretty much the norm though for a team in the 2:00 drill?

[tgo]

Good read. 

[SuperFreak90]

Fisher looks lost and disinterested.

[SuperFreak90]

Good blog Oilerman, keep up the good work.

Edited September 23, 2013 by SuperFreak90

[Guest]

I agree with most of this. I went back and watched Locker specifically last night and he was on for most of the day. The TD pass to Hunter to win the game was incredible. The Safety had no shot to get over and make a play on the ball. It was also clear that the Chargers scouted Locker very poorly and had no idea how good he is at throwing the ball outside the hash marks. They dared him to beat them and he did. Fans are going to overlook how bad that Chargers defense is both talent and scheme wise. Can't really blame them I suppose. McCoy should take a lot of heat for shutting down Rivers in the 2nd half and especially not allowing him to throw on the 3rd down at the end of the game. To that point, Rivers was 20/24. Lastly, Loggains still struggles with calling plays and the offense must get better if they are to truly make a run at the playoffs. We'll know a lot more about this team after the Jets and Chiefs game coming up. They are a combined 5-1 although you could argue neither has a quality win outside of the Chiefs over the Cowboys.

Edited September 23, 2013 by oldschool